____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 8, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Bible Words and Phrases Used "Comprehensively" by Tom Edwards The word "comprehensive" has been defined as "1. Including all or everything. 2. Broad in scope" (Wordweb 2.0). When we look to the word of God, we find that there are many terms, which are used comprehensively. In other words, one word or one phrase is used to stand for various things; and though not specified in the word or phrase, these things are inferred -- based on other Bible passages that define or illustrate what that word or phrase involves. "Walk in the Light" Take, for an example, the phrase "walk in the light" (1 Jn. 1:7). John shows that this is essential in order that Christians can have forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ and also to have fellowship with one another. But what does that phrase mean? We realize that it is "summing up" various things that God demands of us. "Walk in the Darkness" John often uses the term "light" to refer to the knowledge of God's word; and the term "darkness" to refer to ignorance or sin. As he points out in the previous verse (v. 6), "If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." So, whereas "walking in the light" consists of keeping the commandments of God to live a righteous life, "walking in the darkness" involves doing anything that would be sin -- thus, another phrase that sums up numerous things. "Faithful" "Walking in the light" can also be expressed as being "faithful," which has been defined as "1. steadfast in affection or allegiance; loyal. 2. firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty: conscientious..." (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). Faithfulness, therefore, implies action -- but not just any action. So we must examine the full scope of God's word in order to learn what those actions or duties are to be; and they are to be carried out even at the cost of physical death: "Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." Not forsaking the church assemblies is just one of the ways in which we are to be faithful. By examining the Scriptures, we learn of many things that are involved in faithfulness; so it, too, is definitely used comprehensively. "Abide in Me" Jesus summed up many things when He taught the need for His followers to "Abide in Me..." (John 15:4). In the same chapter He also points out that we do this by having His words to abide in us (v. 7) and keeping His commandments (v. 10) -- but even these phrases are also used comprehensively, since they don't detail what all those commandments are. We, therefore, need to not only learn of them, but also put them into practice because this is the way we show our love to the Lord: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). (See also John 15:10 and 1 John 5:3.) "Calls" Consider also Acts 2:21: "...everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how does one "call"? It, too, is a term being used comprehensively, so we must look to the Scriptures to see what this "call" involves. Since all who would call upon the Lord would be saved, then all the verses that teach of the things one must do to become a Christian would be implied in the word "call" in Acts 2:21. For there is only one plan of salvation. What are these necessary things one must do to become a child of God? One must first of all hear the word of God (Rom. 10:17; 1:16). For Paul rhetorically asks, after making the same statement that "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom. 10:13), "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?" (v. 14). So one must hear the gospel before one can "call." In addition, one must also believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30; 26:20), confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38), and be baptized in water (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3,4; 1 Peter 3:21). Since these are the things one must do to have sins forgiven and become a Christian, then "calling" on the Lord implies all of this. Going back to Acts 2, in which Peter had declared that all could be saved by calling on the Lord (v. 21), we are mindful that the people that day in Jerusalem were hearing the gospel being proclaimed, they were told to believe in Christ (v. 36), and to repent and be baptized so that their sins would be forgiven (v. 38), which would all be a part of their "calling" on the Lord. Tragically, however, the "salvation" message that many preach and teach today does not consist of all which the Bible shows it must. Many today have failed to understand the comprehensive meaning of the word "call." But the numerous examples of conversion in the New Testament, and the commands pertaining to salvation, should make it easy for one to realize the full implication of the term "call." God has made it clear. "Love" Another comprehensive term is the word "love." It sums up many things that God requires of us -- whether we're talking about our love for God or our love for one another. The Bible explicitly shows that this love is not a mere sentimentality, a mushiness, or only an emotional thing; rather, it's a love that governs our actions and develops the proper behavior. Writing to the Romans, Paul states, "For this, `You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, it is SUMMED UP in this saying, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 14:9,10, emph. mine). In this passage, Paul shows that the phrase "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" sums up various things. Not committing adultery with a neighbor's spouse, not murdering, not stealing, and not coveting are some specific things Paul mentions that characterize true love. We can also read elsewhere in the Scriptures to see more of what real love sums up -- such as being kind and benevolent toward others, being forgiving and merciful, being instructive and rebuking the wayward, etc. And when it comes to our love for God, as we saw above, it involves the keeping of the commandments of God (John 14:15). "Faith" With all this in mind, people should be able to better see that when the Bible speaks of salvation by "faith," that that "faith" is being used comprehensively to sum up various things that are necessary. For the faith that saves is not merely a "mental assent toward the deity of Christ." For the demons have that kind of faith, and tremble (James 2:19); and James further points out that that kind of faith, which is not accompanied by obedience, is "useless" (v. 20) and "dead" (v. 26). But the faith that saves is the faith that complies with God's demands. As the Hebrew writer makes evident in Hebrews 5:9, Jesus "...became to all those who OBEY Him the source of eternal salvation" (emph. mine). And the "steps toward becoming a Christian," which we considered above in what it means to "call" on the Lord, are certainly part of the comprehensive faith that saves -- as well as our adherence to the rest of God's commands. Conclusion There are numerous words and phrases in the Bible that are used to sum up many things, which are learned elsewhere in the Scriptures. We, therefore, need to diligently study God's word to acquire its full panoramic picture so that we can thoroughly understand what terms -- such as "walk in the light," "walk in the darkness," "faithful," "abide in Me," "calls," "love," "faith," etc. -- consist of. Without these practical terms that "sum up" so many important truths, the New Testament would have to continually reiterate all the things these terms actually involve -- which would mean numerous repeatings of the commandments of the Lord and His teachings. Can you imagine that? If that had been the case, how many volumes of books would it have taken to contain the New Testament? Let us study deeply into God's word to acquire the proper understanding of all the comprehensive words and phrases it uses to sum up those things we are to know or to do, so that just that one word or phrase will then trigger the proper meaning, the correct response, and truly be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (cf. Psa. 119:105). ___________________________________________ "Seeing" Jesus in the Destruction of Jerusalem by Clarence Johnson As Jesus concluded His scathing rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and inconsistency, He foretold the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in their generation. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, `If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, `Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"' (Matt. 23:29-39). This speech was given on Tuesday before Jesus was crucified on Friday. After the crucifixion, He would be raised from the dead, and for a few days, He would appear to His disciples to encourage and strengthen them for the task before them of going into all the world and preaching the gospel to every creature. Then, after these brief appearances, He would ascend to heaven, and neither His disciples nor His enemies would see Him anymore until His second coming, some time in the distance. And yet, in a figurative sense, they would "see" Him in the events that surround the up-coming destruction of Jerusalem within their own generation. They would "see" that He had been correct in what He foretold. They would "see" that their rejection of Him was the culmination of their rejection of the prophets down through the ages. They would "see" that though He was not visible to the physical eye, He was clearly in charge, bringing events to their inevitable conclusion with the downfall of the Jewish temple, the once-Holy city and the Jewish economy in general. As the clouds of dust and smoke accompanied the destruction of those who had rebelled against God's Son and caused Him to be crucified, as the Roman armies romped and roared and pillaged, they would again "see" the power of Jesus in those clouds, bringing judgment upon an ungodly generation and nation. -- Via Susquehanna Sentinel 9/2/01 ___________________________________________ News & Notes I need to make a correction on Frank Ragsdale's radiation treatments: it wasn't cut down from 8 treatments to 4, but rather from 8 weeks to 4 weeks. Or, in other words, from 40 treatments to 20. We are glad that he is progressing well. Last Thursday, he began these treatments. Joshua Watts had successful surgery last Monday, in which the rod in his leg was removed and an outside apparatus attached. Then on Thursday, he received additional surgery to tie off an artery and insert antibiotic beads where the steel rod had been. His next surgery, which might be either the 7th or the 8th, will be for a muscle graft. Following that, he will have another operation on December 26 to re-insert a steel rod in his leg and remove the outside apparatus. Then, in the near future, there will also be another surgery to remove the steel rod for good. Let us continue remembering these men in prayer. ________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________